ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS: MATERNAL ESTROGEN, METABOLISM, AND FETAL FATTY ACID SUPPLY

Specific Aim 1A: Assess the relationship between BPA and phthalate exposure and the supply of LC-PUFAs to the fetus. Cord blood will be collected at birth and assessed for the concentration of several LC-PUFAs and the n-6/n-3 ratio.Specific Aim 1B: Assess the relationship between BPA and phthalate exposure and the supply of a variety of lipid classes to the fetus. Cord blood will be collected at birth and assessed for the concentration of numerous lipids using the lipidomics platform.Specific Aim 2: Assess whether the relationship of BPA and phthalates with cord blood LC-PUFAs (Aim 1) is mediated by the association of BPA and phthalates with urine concentrations of estrogen levels across pregnancy. Preliminary findings from the K99 studies suggest that increasing BPA and several phthalate metabolites are associated with increased concentrations of estrogen metabolites across pregnancy.